Salutati, Coluccio 643Salimbene’s Chronicleis known from a single incom-
plete but autographed manuscript. An original work of
history and autobiography, it is loaded with sharp and
insightful anecdotes along with legal, literary, and histori-
cal knowledge. A unique work, it is an important source
for historians of the tumultuous 13th century. He died
sometime after 1288.
Further reading:Salimbene, da Parma, The Chronicle
of Salimbene de Adam,trans. Joseph L. Baird, Guiseppe
Baglivi, and John Robert Kane (Binghamton: Medieval &
Renaissance Texts & Studies, 1986); Robert Brentano,
Two Churches: England and Italy in the Thirteenth Century
(1968; reprint, Berkeley: University of California Press,
1988); Rosalind B. Brooke, Early Franciscan Government:
Elias to Bonaventure(Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1959); John Moorman, A History of the Franciscan
Order from Its Origins to the Year 1517(Oxford: Clarendon
Press, 1968).
Salisbury, cathedral of The CATHEDRALof Salisbury
in Wiltshire, ENGLAND, was in its organizational practices
and liturgy was one of the most influential of English
cathedrals in the Middle Ages. The diocese of Salisbury
was established as an episcopal see in 1075. The first
cathedral of Salisbury was at Old Sarum, north of the pre-
sent city, and within the walls of a Norman CASTLE. That
church was dedicated in 1092 by Bishop and Saint
Osmund (1078–99), the nephew of WILLIAMI.
By the end of the 12th century, the location of Old
Sarum was be considered inappropriate for a cathedral. In
1218 its chapter decided to move to the planned town of
New Salisbury. In 1220 Bishop Richard Poor (d. 1237) laid
the foundation stone of the new cathedral which was con-
secrated in 1258; with roof completed in 1266. The clois-
ters, chapter house, and spire, the highest in England, were
added over the course of the 13th century. This cathedral
was remarkable for its architectural unity, a version of the
GOTHICstyle known as Early English or decorative style.
The statutes and administrative practices of the
cathedral chapter and the conduct of services were
recorded in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. They
formed a guide to what became known as the Use of
Sarum.It exercised enormous influence on constitutional
and liturgical practice in English cathedrals in the later
Middle Ages. By the mid-15th century it was used
throughout England, WALES, and IRELAND. The cathedral
community became famous for its learning and liturgy. Its
surviving manuscript books from the late 11th and early
12th centuries have lent support to the assertion of the
chronicler WILLIAM of Malmesbury that the Salisbury
chapter was the most learned community of canons in
England. In the 13th century Salisbury reached the
height of its fame as a center of learning.
Further reading:G. L. Cochrane, Salisbury Cathedral:
The West Front with a Description of the Statues(Salisbury:
Friends of Salisbury Cathedral, 1971); Thomas Cocke
and Peter Kidson, Salisbury Cathedral: Perspectives on the
Architectural History(London: H.M.S.O., 1993); Laurence
Keen and Thomas Cocke, eds., Medieval Art and Architec-
ture at Salisbury Cathedral(London: British Archaeologi-
cal Association, 1996); R. O. C. Spring, The Stained Glass
of Salisbury Cathedral,2d ed. (Salisbury: Friends of Salis-
bury Cathedral, 1979); Teresa Webber, Scribes and Schol-
ars at Salisbury Cathedral, c. 1075–c. 1125 (Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1992).salt and salt trade Salt is generally considered essen-
tial to the well-being of human beings and animals. It
gives savor to foods and plays an important physiological
role in digestion, cellular health, and the transmission of
nerve impulses. It has been used for centuries to desic-
cate and preserve fish, meat, and vegetable by preventing
the growth of bacteria.
In medieval Europe the main sources of salt were
along the seashore and from mining inland. In the early
Middle Ages, sea salt was gathered from salt marshes.
Away from the coasts, rock salt was mined from deposits
underground. A new technique was added in the 12th
century in which water was poured to dissolve rock salt,
thereby producing a brine that was then carried by chan-
nels to a saltworks, where it was boiled in pans to remove
the remaining water to produce a granulated salt. Trans-
port costs were always high since salt is heavy and bulky.
The salt trade was considered essential to the public good
and from the 13th century was organized by states and
cities as monopolies to facilitate taxation and guarantee
supplies.
See alsoFOOD, DRINK, AND NUTRITION;RAVENNA;SAR-
DINIA; TRANSYLVANIA; VENICE.
Further reading:Samuel Adrian M. Adshead, Salt
and Civilization (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1992);
Mark Kurlansky, Salt: A World History (New York:
Walker, 2002); Robert P. Multhauf, Neptune’s Gift: A His-
tory of Common Salt(Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity Press, 1978).Salutati, Coluccio (1331–1406)Florentine humanist
scholar, bureaucrat, chancellor
Born at Stignano in Valdinievole in 1331, Coluccio, stud-
ied the notarial art at BOLOGNAunder the patronage of
the powerful Pepoli family. From 1350 he was a profes-
sional NOTARYin many Italian cities while following his
literary studies. He maintained a close correspondence
with BOCCACCIO and especially with PETRARCH. He
worked for the town bureaucracies of Todi, LUCCA, and
the PAPACY. In 1374 he moved to FLORENCE, hired first as
notary of the Tratteor the electoral system and eventually
chancellor of the COMMUNEin 1375. In this office, which
he held until his death, he was renowned for his powerful
diplomatic correspondence. He found ways to apply an